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Rowing 30 Marathons in 30 Days for Down's Syndrome

From September 15th to October 15th the international on-line rowing community stage the Fall Rowing Challenge. Anyone can enter and the idea is to row as far as possible on a C2 indoor rowing machine.

This year I am going to row 30 half-marathons during those 30 days, all at sub 2 minute / 500 metre pace and in a single session each day - so no slow rowing or breaking it up into small sets! Each half-marathon is 21,097 metres and should take around 1 hour and 24 minutes - that is 632,910 metres and about 42 hours on the rower. I just hope I don't fall apart before the end!

The reason that I am doing this is to raise money for the Down's Syndrome Association (Charity #1061474). You can see what they get up to at www.downs-syndrome.org.uk.

Why? Good question. My little sister, Katie (she's the one in the picture with me and the rower) has Down's Syndrome - two babies are born every day in the UK with this learning disability.

Katie is a beautiful and loving young woman - she is great fun, she works and has a generally fantastic lifestyle. To be honest we sometimes joke about spending a week in Katie's world because it must be a wonderful place!

Whilst Katie will be my motivation to complete this challenge I'm not doing it directly for her benefit - I am doing for all the other people that the DSA helps that are not as lucky as Katie. Every single penny that is raised really will help the DSA to carry out their work to help those born with Down's Syndrome and their parents who need support, advice and information.

Thank you very, very, much indeed.

Challenge Log:

Total Days: 31 / Total Rows: 31

Total Metres: 770,000 / 478.5 miles

Total Time: 50 hours, 52 minutes 34.2 seconds

Average Pace: 1 min 58.93 seconds per 500 metres

Half-Marathons: 36.5

Day 31 / Row #31 - 15th October 2010

30,653 Metres / 2 h 1m 32.3s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Katie, you kept me going on the last one. I love you little sister xxx

Day 30 / Row #30 - 14th October 2010

30,265 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Made it, still in one piece but there is one day to go in the World Challenge...

Day 29 / Row #29 - 13th October 2010

30,282 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.88/500metre pace

Over 700,000 metres clocked up now, almost there...

Day 28 / Row #28 - 12th October 2010

30,263 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.96/500metre pace

It's so close now I can taste the Guinness!

Day 27 / Row #27 - 11th October 2010

30,261 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.97/500metre pace

That's the total metres tally for the challenge but still got 3 days of rowing left...

Day 26 / Row #26 - 10th October 2010

30,272 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.92/500metre pace

That's 618,276 metres now - the body is starting to creek a bit here and there!

Day 25 / Row #25 - 9th October 2010

30,278 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.90/500metre pace

The metres are really adding up now with these longer rowing pieces. Closing in...

Day 24 / Row #24 - 8th October 2010

30,282 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.88/500metre pace

The beginning of the end - into the last week. Not far now.

Day 23 / Row #23 - 7th October 2010

25,000 Metres / 1h 39m 6.4s / 1:58.93/500metre pace

And so into the final week...I can't wait for a pint of Guinness!

Day 22 / Row #22 - 6th October 2010

30,281 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.89/500metre pace

Passed the half-million metres point today - 502,444 metres so far...

Day 21 / Row #21 - 5th October 2010

30,265 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Felt good today, hence the two-hour piece. Trying to pick up the mileage now...

Day 20 / Row #20 - 4th October 2010

22,705 Metres / 90 minutes / 1:58.92/500metre pace

Two-thirds complete now, another milestone - getting very tired!

Day 19 / Row #19 - 3rd October 2010

30,272 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.92/500metre pace

The Ryder Cup may be suspended but my little boat is still going strong...

Day 18 / Row #18 - 2nd October 2010

30,272 Metres / 2 hours / 1:58.92/500metre pace

Longer row today as the road home gets shorter and shorter...

Day 17 / Row #17 - 1st October 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.0s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Still in one piece and still going, I can see the finish line now...

Day 16 / Row #16 - 30th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.2s / 1:58.96/500metre pace

It's all downstream now...nice and cold this morning too, that helps...

Day 15 / Row #15 - 29th September 2010 !!!HALF-WAY!!!

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.1s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Half-way - this is a very important psychological milestone for me. 15 to go...

Day 14 / Row #14 - 28th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.1s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Two weeks in, still going, still feel in pretty good shape - just tired all the time!

Day 13 / Row #13 - 27th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.0s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

A very early start today but even so a steady Monday morning.

Day 12 / Row #12 - 26th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 38.3s / 1:58.93/500metre pace

Another relaxing Sunday morning...

Day 11 / Row #11 - 25th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.0s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

It's nice and cold this morning, almost like rowing outdoors. Lovely...

Day 10 / Row #10 - 24th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 37.5s / 1:58.92/500metre pace

Double figures. This is a really important psychological milestone for me.

Day 9 / Row #9 - 23rd September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.1s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Today was a day for just keeping going and getting the job done...

Day 8 / Row #8 - 22nd September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 38.5s / 1:58.94/500metre pace

Slightly more than a quarter way through now. Steady rowing so far...

Day 7 / Row #7 - 21st September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 38.4s / 1:58.94/500metre pace

First week complete. Feels like a milestone to me, just 23 to go!! Feeling OK...

Day 6 / Row #6 - 20th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.0s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

That's one way to start the week off. 1/5th complete now, getting into it...

Day 5 / Row #5 - 19th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 35.2s / 1:58.86/500metre pace

...and I thought Sunday morning's were for relaxing and reading the paper...

Day 4 / Row #4 - 18th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 37.7s / 1:58.92/500metre pace

Avoided the beer last night at Steve's birthday, which seems to have paid off.

Day 3 / Row #3 - 17th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.0s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Seem to be finding some rhythm for the first time in my life at 27 strokes/minute.

Day 2 / Row #2 - 16th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 38.9s / 1:58.95/500metre pace

Last night's curry was sitting a little heavy, but otherwise OK.

Day 1 / Row #1 - 15th September 2010

21,097 Metres / 1h 23m 39.7s / 1:58.97/500metre pace

Steady start - 1 day done, 29 to go!!